Lyon is a city in east-central France in the region Rhône-Alpes, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is a major centre of business with a reputation as the French capital of gastronomy and has a significant role in the history of cinema thanks to Auguste and Louis Lumière who lived and worked here at the tail-end of the 19th century.

The city of Lyon has a population of 472,305. Together with its suburbs and satellite towns, Lyon forms the second-largest metropolitan area in France after that of Paris.
Its urban region, represents half of the population of the Rhône-Alpes region with three million inhabitants. Lyon is also a major industrial centre specialising in chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotech industries. The city also hosts a significant software industry with a particular focus on video games.

The city is known for its historical and architectural landmarks and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lyon was historically known as the silk capital of the world.